Shes really cool. The cause of Goodspeed's death will not be determined until the results of toxicology tests come back, Winter added. Jack achieved more than many people could dream of achieving.. Johns Released an album, Hold Back My Heart, and an three-song EP, Love and Sex in 2012. 'American Idol' Top 26: Iam Tongi and Nutsa win over fans in Hawaii, but who will be eliminated? On November 11, 2008 she was found dead of an apparent drug overdose outside of Paula Abdul's house, with CDs and pictures of Abdul that were found in the car. The Orange County coroner's office told People Johns died of natural causes "as the result of a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged." Signs of Goodspeeds infatuation with Abdul included her cars personalized license plate ABL LV and a photo of Abdul hanging from the rearview mirror. Abdul said her life seems to be coming full circle. Even the judges were blown away, including Paula Abdul who fell in love with Borgella's voice and her "stunning" appearance. CBS' short-lived, pirate-themed reality show Pirate Master resulted in tragedy when Cheryl Kosewicz, a 35-year-old deputy district attorney from Nevada, committed suicide after being eliminated from the series. (via People) that Goodspeed "had been writing disturbing letters for 17 years, almost 18 years." Ive been drawing ever since I was a little kid, and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul.. Oh my god she changed her name for you, and I saw her name, I got really nervous. Paula said of Goodspeed. Billy asked Paula if she felt any guilt surrounding Goodspeeds death. "I don't think any artist on Earth can sing with that much metal in your mouth anyway. In a new interview with Access Hollywoods Billy Bush, Paula Abdul says she is still deeply affected by the death of Paula Goodspeed, the former American Idol contestant who committed suicide near Abduls home in November. She just liked the name Paula, she says. Murder, Suicide, Overdoses! 30 Reality TV Stars Who Suffered Tragic Deaths Show history: Spence was the runner-up of Season 19 to Chayce Beckham. Host, musical guest details. A lover of the great outdoors who lived in Orem, Utah, at the time told host Ryan Seacrest, Its where I feel most at peace you could say, I guess. Judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson appreciated her folksy laidback acapella version of the Rufus and Chaka Khan R&B classic Tell Me Something Good as well as her flower-girl vibe. The car, parked a few doors down from Abduls house, featured a license plate ABL LV and had a photo of Abdul hanging from the rear view mirror. The twice-divorced star was left "deeply shocked and saddened" when former American Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed was found dead in her own car outside of her house. Abdul claimed that despite her pleas with the programme's producers not to allow Goodspeed to audition, they ignored her, insisting it would be 'entertaining'. She was quickly nicknamed Glitter Girl by the shows fans. The cause of death was suicide by drug overdose at age 30. Her parents, who reported her missing the same day, had previously told sheriffs that they thought she would be at Abduls house. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Her performance of Total Eclipse of the Heart in the semi-finals sent her through to the live shows. Lets all take a pause to remember those Idol hopefuls who left us too soon. Peoplemagazine would later confirm Lynche died from "acute chronic alcoholism. Paula Abdul hits out at American Idol producers for allowing 'stalker Corey Cesare is Talent Recap's Managing Editor and featured YouTube Host. Our officers discovered her vehicle parked on the street, and found her inside. I was shaking," Abdul said. Simon Cowell reveals his 'regret' over American Idol contestant's Stars From American Idol You Didn't Know Died Kovar died in Aug. 2012 at the age of 29; an autopsy revealed that he succumbed to "opiate intoxication.". Paula said her life has dramatically changed since the tragic event in November. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. The substance-abuse-related deaths of police brutality victimRodney King, Grease actor Jeff Conaway and Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr shined a spotlight on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, a reality show which so far has had five fatalities among its troubled cast members, including Joey Kovar and Mindy McCready. He was survived by his wife, who he wed in 2007. January 8, 2015. Paula was a fan of Paula Abdul, even to the point of her changing her name to Paula Goodspeed at age 16 and modeling her singing and appearance after her. Michael Johns was an Australian singer who started a career in Atlanta before he appeared on Idol Season 7 in 2008. "Simon is a big fat bad word," she says, before flipping the camera the bird. Michael Johns appeared on American Idol in 2008, and fans can still recall when the Australian-born crooner serenaded the crowd with his amazing performance of Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long." He was the lead contender on The Voice in season eight. She was 30 and had been obsessed with Abdul since she was 12 years old. While lying in her hospital bed, she teared up but reassured her fans by saying, "I feel good knowing that God is with me. All Rights Reserved. When I heard from [Idol creator] Nigel [Lythgoe], Wait til you see this next girl! Breakdowns, Suicides: The Dark Side of Reality TV - ABC News My heart and prayers go out to her family. 'American Idol' deaths: Full list of singers we've lost Paula Abdul has spoken out for the first time about the death of Paula Goodspeed, inset, an "American Idol" hopeful turned alleged stalker, who was found dead from a drug overdose in a car outside . Maybe his career didn't flourish the way he expected, but to us, he'll always be a star. Gabriel Ben-Meir, a 30-year-old music coordinator for MTV who worked on Punk'dand other shows for the network, was shot to death outside his home in L.A.'s mid-Wilshire district in May 2011. Shed show up to my home studio wearing fluorescent pants and skirts, with trinkets hanging off her jacket. But she had limited success with her record sales. On November 11, 2008 she was found dead of an apparent drug overdose outside of Paula Abduls house, with CDs and pictures of Abdul that were found in the car. He was 34. Goodspeed didn't make it past the audition phase, but she returned in Season 6 to try out again. "The Bachelor's" Gia Allemand is just the latest fatality. Riley won his first competition during the battle rounds, then withdrew from the competition. Paula Abdul Once Had a Deceased Woman Found near Her House Surrounded Her spokesperson said she also struggled with depression. Hug's body was discovered off a remote highway in the Southern California desert. Paula Abdul Opens Up About Stalker's Suicide - NBC4 Washington I spoke to them after the incident, they were absolutely horrified. She swore at him and flipped him a one-finger salute. Spence finished second in Season 19 and impressed audiences with his passionate performances. went on to tour with Meghan Trainor in 2015. Baker was featured in auditions filmed in Puerto Rico. Subscribe for Latest Update! How we set up for hours in our room in the Idol Mansion talking and listening to music. Cause of death: Struck by a hit-and-run driver at age 25 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. She said: 'She has been a stalker-fan for about 17 years and it wasn't until American Idol that she knew how to get to me. It's just been a very, very tough three weeks for me and for her family and for everyone involved.". She was cheery. Cause of death: Spence died at age 23 following a car accident in Tennessee. When Rickey Smith appeared on Season 2 in 2003, he knocked our socks off as he channeled the Motown era. Sadly, since the timeAmerican Idoldebuted in 2002,a few contestants have lost their lives in tragic car accidents, while another contender took her own life near one of the judges' homes. You're like a white soul singer.". Always In Our Hearts.". [POLL RESULTS], 'American Idol 21' episode 15 recap: Top 12 perform on 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night'; who was eliminated? He went to the doctor before christmas because he was feeling tired and they never spotted any problems, she said. You know, [she] had attempted to do that a few months prior, Paula continued. She left the judges speechless with her original song. A former American Idol contestant apparently infatuated with Paula Abdul was found dead Tuesday night in a car near Abduls Los Angeles house. [POLL]. All rights reserved. She was showing me where she lived. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. All About Sharrieff Shah, Simon Cowell Was Once Offered His Own Talk Show But He Backed Out: 'Literally Couldn't Do' It, Monterey Park Mass Shooting: Remembering the Victims, Willie Nelson's 8 Children: Everything to Know, Camila Cabello Reveals She Originally Auditioned for 'The Voice' Before Finding Fame on 'X Factor', Simon Cowell Details His First Encounter with Kelly Clarkson on 'American' 'Idol' : 'Stay Away from Me', Pa. Man Accused of Setting Ex's House on Fire 1 Day After Breakup, Killing Her Sister Who Used Wheelchair, 911 Call About Ga. The star of Paradise Hotel 2, which aired on MyNetworkTV, Nathan Clutter leaped to his death from a cellular tower in Oct. 2007 at the age of 26. Abdul said after the song that she was "speechless" and "that's not a great thing. "We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence," the Idol team wrote on Twitter. I went through a very rough time of feeling like she wanted my attention so much I shed a lot of tears. He tried to pursue a music career in L.A. but instead moved back home. American Idol will return for its 21st season next year on ABC. She even had Cowell as her mentor while on the show. You were the heart of our season and the true definition of a real friend.. His death came after he suffered a leg injury. Country star Mindy McCready appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2009, in which her struggles with addiction were documented. She was 26. 11:12 EDT 18 Dec 2008. Online. 'Prior to that, it was always through a fan club. Paula Goodspeed | American Idol Wiki | Fandom My stepfather is a great singer too. PEOPLE.com and the Peoples Choice Awards are counting your votes! As one of the finalists on the show, he was part of the American Idol Live! RELATED GALLERY: 2005: Paula finally ends her battle with chronic pain. According to PEOPLE, the medical examiners office in Philadelphia said that the death was a suicide by hanging. Paula Abdul's Cheerleading Bowl," in which she searches for the best cheerleading squad in the country. I do this for me, but not only for me, Spence said at his audition in San Diego. Paula Abdul fanatic Paula Godspeed found dead near singer's home Celebs Who Have Been Stalked | Entertainment Tonight Whos your Favorite Star Under 35? The body of 30-year-old Paula Goodspeed, . Now she's a judge on the popular show "American Idol.". But I dont believe my aunt killed herself., Ed Faris, a producer/songwriter in Los Angeles, worked with Goodspeed on her fledgling singing career around 2005 or 2006, and remembered her as a bit off the wall., I was hired by her singing coach to help Paula record some songs, he says. Ive been drawing ever since I was a little kid and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul.. A helicopter crash in February 2013 claimed the lives of three people involved the shooting of an "untitled military project" for Discovery Channel in Acton, Calif. Goodspeed's death reignited the debate over whether the judging on "American Idol" can be too harsh. 'My regret in all of this is that we didn't know how troubled this person was. Advertisement. Police confirmed Goodspeed died after overdosing and had been involved in several incidents at Abdul's home in recent years. Its just a sad situation all around., Reporting by JENNIFER GARCIA, LIZA HAMM and KEN LEE. He explained: 'I dont remember to be honest with you. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. In March 2013, shooting on Koh-Lanta, the Survivor of France, was cut short after contestant Gerald Babin, 25, died during the first day of filming. PEOPLE.com and the Peoples Choice Awards are counting your votes! She had overdosed on prescription pills, and her death was ruled a suicide. And now, the Idol judge claims that it was not the first time the troubled woman had attempted to take her own life near Paulas home. He said: 'All youve got to say is "Stop filming, I need to speak with the producers." Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. "If somebody has a deadly disease that requires chronic treatment [and] are not, everyday, involved in that treatment, their life is in danger today," Dr. Drew Pinsky told ET. And the thing is, that all she could do was get a hold of me through my fan club.. Authorities easily recognized her since she was notorious for stalking Abdul. Mom Debbie Collier Mentioned Accident with Mystery Truck Driver Who Was 'Out on Parole', N.J. Woman Was Found Slain in Home and Days Later, 'Person of Interest' Boyfriend Is Found Dead by Suicide, 'American Idol' Judges Through the Years in Honor of the Show's 20th Anniversary, 2000: Ending a 15-year obsession, Brooke Shields stalker is arrested, 2005: Paula finally ends her battle with chronic pain. "I've made peace with it, but it's still frustrating.". All they want to do is make a successful show. Second best episode of the season. 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She died in her car, parked outside Abdul's home in Sherman Oaks, California. The British judge said the death in November of Paula Goodspeed, 30, a fan of fellow "Idol" judge Paula Abdul who was ridiculed when she tried out in 2005, "hit us like an express train. Shes really cool. Show history: McKibbin appeared on Season 1 of American Idol in 2002, where she ultimately placed third behind runner-up Justin Guarini and winner Kelly Clarkson. I do this for my family. At the time, the 21-year old caretaker from Douglas, Georgia earned his spot on the ABCreality TVcompetition by singing Diamonds for judgesKaty Perry,Lionel RichieandLuke Bryan. Paula Goodspeed, the "American Idol" contestant who was an obsessive fan of Paula Abdul, was found dead in her car near the TV judge's home in an apparent suicide by overdose . Police said that prescription pills, along with CDs and pictures of Abdul were found in the car. On Nov. 12, 2008, Goodspeed parked her car a few doors down from Abdul's Los Angeles home and, according to Los Angeles police, died from an apparent overdose. News. She sang Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me" and left us all with goosebumps, including Randy Jackson who was gobsmacked by the Hungarian-born songstress' sultry vocals. Cohen was 25 at the time of her death. Drugs and alcohol were involved. Iconic! Some of these American Idol singers who died too soon were fan favorites. Paula Goodspeed did not make it past the auditions in Season 5. Its a different thing, she added. Burdett did not answer the door, or phone. Dec. 8, 2008 — -- Paula Abdul spoke out today for the first time about the death of Paula Goodspeed, an "American Idol" hopeful turned stalker who was found dead from an apparent drug overdose in a car outside Abdul's Los Angeles home. A manhunt for Jenkins followed, and shortly after his body was found hanging by a belt in the Thunderbird Motel in Hope, British Columbia. Paula Goodspeed Sent Abdul Flowers Days Before Suicide Obsessed Abdul Fan's Autopsy | The Smoking Gun That same year, Cohen's life tragically ended when she was struck by a car in Seaside Heights, N.J. MTV reported the autopsy results "showed that she had suffered chest, head and abdominal injuries." When I heard from [Idol creator] Nigel [Lythgoe], Wait til you see this next girl! "My life is full of ironies and metaphors," Abdul told "GMA. We invited them there and then they show up at our house for a cocktail party and Simon goes, What the hell are you doing here? But the thing is, their talent does not warrant, you suck, because these are talented kids.. She suffered a brain aneurysm and was only 42. I happened to be in New York when I heard about it., Goodspeed auditioned for Idol in February 2006, dressed in pink, and with a mouth full of braces, she proclaimed, You have to have a certain personality to pull my look off., I really like Paula Abdul a lot, Goodspeed said on the show. We genuinely didn't know.'. The 30-year-old was discovered in a car alongside prescription drugs, CDs and pictures of pop star Abdul. It hit us like an express train. The most recent tragedy struck in early October 2022 when Willie Spence died in a car accident in Tennessee. Others were memorable oddballs who often made the wrong kind of impression. She created portraits of Abdul, which were shown when she performed. Goodspeed, an obsessed fan of fellow Idol judge Paula Abdul, committed suicide in her car outside the Eighties singer's Los Angeles home last month. Culkin, Strong, and ", 2023 Emmy Predictions: Limited/Movie Categories (Part 7), 2023 Emmy Predictions: Comedy Categories (Part 10). Now, theres access to follow me home and I [had] a really scary situation and its time for me to move. [Im] living with security full time now, its just different. And now, the Idol judge claims that it was not the first time the troubled woman had attempted to take her own life near Paulas home. According to ABC News, the 30-year-old died from an apparent overdose in Nov. 2008. In 2008, Paula was 'shocked and saddened' by Paula Goodspeed's death outside her home (Image: Getty Images) Paula's LA home became the centre of a suspicious death in November 2008. Two suspects, Jabaar Vincent Thomas and Destiny Young, were later charged with second-degree murder. Smith performed a folk version of Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good" that impressed the judges. Goodspeed, who was born Sandra May McIntyre, died by suicide by a drug overdose. 'Ill make a decision next year as to what I do as an onscreen judge because there is a big, big schedule now and I do two other shows, so its been hard. Goodspeeds Idol audition was prominently featured by the show, and in her interview with host Ryan Seacrest, she clearly expressed her affection for Abdul. Ryan Jenkins had just completed filming on Megan Wants a Millionaire, a VH1 reality show starring former Rock of Love contestant Megan Hauserman, when he met Jasmine Fiore, a swimsuit model, at a Las Vegas casino in March 2009. Unfortunately, Spence is one of several Idol contestants who have died since they appeared on the show. I think that this show could continue for another 10, 20 years, to be honest with you.'. She was 31 years old. Pro boxer Najai Turpin, a contestant on NBC's The Contender, killed himself in Feb. 2005 while sitting in a car with his girlfriend and 2-year-old daughter. Ive always believed that. Despite Abdul's claims, Cowell insisted he didn't remember her asking producers not to allow Goodspeed to audition. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Police confirmed Goodspeed died after overdosing and had been involved in several incidents at Abdul's home in recent years. According to Goodspeed's mother, the victim was obsessed with Paula Abdul and told her she was going to visit Paula on Tuesday. Photo: Fitzroy Barrett/Landov; Courtesy Entertainment Tonight/Reuters/Landov, N.J. Student, 11, Found Dead in School Bathroom After She Reported Alleged Bullying, BTS Members: Everything to Know About the K-Pop Supergroup, Joey McIntyre on His 'Extraordinary Night' Performing at Carnegie Hall: 'It Was Hard Not to Get Emotional', Benson Boone Says His Debut Album Which He Confirms Is Coming Is the Start of a 'New Era', Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan Tear Up at 'Idol' Contestant's Tribute to Willie Spence, Who Is Jen Shah's Husband? Excerpts of the coroner's report, which was released. By Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. After singing Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody To Love" in Season 7, Simon Cowell said he didn't think "this competition" was "the route" for her, which prompted Cohen to leave the judging room and fly into a tirade. Topics; Paula Abdul; Raiola had been a main character on the VH1 show since 2012. His audition song was Brian McKnights One Last Cry and finished in eighth place. Please do not let her in.' Leah LaBelle finished 12th in American Idol Season 3. According to Paula, this was not the first time Goodspeed had come to Paulas house to attempt to end her life. He would say, 'The uncanny resemblance between the two of you,' and just egg it on and egg it on.